The Denver Post
April 6, 1993, pg 3B
Council defies Amendment 2 in 6-1 vote
By Michael Booth, Staff Writer
Crested Butte's city council approved an anti-discrimination law last night
that includes protection for gays and lesbians, openly defying Amendment 2 and
sending a message to tourists considering a boycott.
The council voted 6 to 1 in favor of the ordiannce, which protects sexual
orientation as well as a number of other cateagories including race,
disability, gender, and religious or political affiliation.
Crested Butte becomes the second Colorado town to pass local protections for
gays since voters added anti-gay rights Amendment 2 to the state constitution
on Nov. 3. Telluride passed a gay rights ordinance similar to Crested Butte's
in February.
Nearly every Colorado county with a major ski resort voted against Amendment
2 in the November election, and many ski-oriented towns have passed resolu-
tions or taken other actions supporting gay rights to help counter the boycott.
The town of Crested Butte lies a few miles below the Crested Butte ski area.
Crested Butte Mayor Jim Schmidt said the town always has been open-minded, and
avoided a bitter debate over the new law because "it's truly somehting people
feel is right, to extend equal rights to all people." Amendment 2 bans the
passage or enforcement of laws protecting gays from discrimination in housing,
public services or employment.
An injunction imposed by a Denver court, however, prevents the amendment itself
from being enforced until a full heariang on its constitutionality is held in
October.
Town officials said there was little opposition to the Crested Butte ordinance.
Schmidt said he had received seven pre-printed postcards as part of an
orchestrated opposition effort, most signed by people living outside of Crested
Butte's boundaries.
The town has not been torn by the same kind of divisive rhetoric that hit
Denver and Colorado Springs during similar votes, he said.
"I don't expect there ever to be a violation" of the new law, Schmidt said.
"The gay people in our community have said they've never felt discriminated
against here," he added.
"To some extent it's a statement of philosophy."